Variety of Calla Lily Plant Named &#39;Copacabana&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Copacabana’ is a new variety of calla lily having inflorescences with a yellow-colored spathe that produces 4-10 inflorescences per tuber. The inflorescence stems are about 60-80 cm in height, and the leaves are green with whitish spots and have a leathery texture.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/386,953, filed on Dec. 17, 2015, and entitled “Varieties of Calla Lily Plants”, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri

Varietal denomination: ‘COPACABANA’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of calla lily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Copacabana’.

‘Copacabana’ is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production in a wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breeding program began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected from the crossing of a Zantedeschia sprengeri selection referred to as Z071884 (female parent, unpatented) with a Zantedeschia sprengeri selection referred to as Z060275 (male parent, unpatented). ‘Copacabana’ was selected in 2011 by the inventor in ‘t Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Copacabana’ by tissue culture was performed by the inventor in September of 2011 in ‘t Zand, The Netherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at the same location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproduced true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in 20-24 cm pots at 12-14 weeks after planting in ‘t Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouse conditions, which approximate those generally used in horticultural practice. Color references are made to the 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Copacabana’ which, in combination, distinguish this calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Large, funnel-shaped inflorescences;     -   2. Intense, yellow-colored spathes; and     -   3. Relatively high inflorescence production when compared to         inflorescence size.

Further, when compared to calla lily plant named ‘Yellow Jacket BLZ’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,217), the upper surface spathe color of ‘Yellow Jacket BLZ’ is Yellow Group RHS 7A and the lower surface spathe color of ‘Yellow Jacket BLZ’ is Yellow Group RHS 7B, whereas the upper surface spathe color of ‘Copacabana’ varies between Yellow Group RHS 7A to 12A and the lower surface spathe color of ‘Copacabana’ varies between Yellow Group RHS 6A to 12A.

Table 1 provides differences of ‘Copacabana’ to its parents, Zantedeschia sprengeri selections Z071884 and Z060275.

TABLE 1 ‘Copacabana’ Differences Z071884 Spathe color Varies between Yellow Group RHS 7A to 9A Plant height 25-35 cm Z060275 Spathe color Varies between Green-Yellow Group RHS 1C to Yellow Group RHS 3A Plant height 40-80 cm

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety at 12-14 weeks after planting, with the colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of an overhead view of the new variety;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a side view of the new variety; and

FIG. 3 is a photograph of a close-up view of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

-   The plant:     -   -   Size.—Height of the leaf canopy above the soil: 40-80 cm.             Height of top of inflorescence above the soil: 50-81 cm.             Diameter: 9-14 cm.         -   Form.—Erect.         -   Number of inflorescences per tuber.—Size 16-18 cm in             diameter: 4-7 inflorescences. Size 18-20 cm in diameter: 4-8             inflorescences. Size 20-24 cm in diameter: 5-10             inflorescences.         -   Branches.—Number: From 3-8. Color: Between Red-Purple Group             RHS 59A to 60C.         -   Leaves.—Size: Width: 8-17 cm. Length: 20-31 cm. Number per             plant: 15-24. Shape: Between the shape of a spear and             sagittate. Color: Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A             to 148A, with transparent White Group RHS 155A and N155A             spots. Lower surface: Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A to 146B,             with transparent White Group RHS 155A and N155A spots. Apex:             Apiculate. Base: Between sagittate and truncate. Margin:             Undulate; having a color of Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A to             N144A. Veins: Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Green Group RHS             137A to Yellow-Green Group RHS 147B. Surface quality:             Leathery. Petiole: Length: 18-50 cm. Average diameter: From             8-9 mm. Color: The base is White Group RHS 155A and the             upper part is Green Group RHS 143A to Yellow-Green Group             144A.         -   Roots.—Color: White. Branching: Similar to other             Zantedeschia varieties. -   The inflorescence and seeds:     -   -   Spathe.—Size: Length (measured from base opening to tip):             6-10 cm. Width: 5.4-7 cm. Height: 10-15 cm. Color: Upper             surface: Varies between Yellow Group RHS 7A to 12A. Lower             surface: Varies between Yellow Group RHS 6A to 12A. Vein             color: Yellow Group RHS 7A. Shape: Funnel. Apex: Apiculate.             Base: Attenuate. Texture: Smooth (upper and lower surfaces).         -   Spadix.—Size: Length: 30-41 mm. Diameter: 7-10 mm. Color:             Between Yellow Group RHS 12A to Yellow-Orange Group RHS 14A.             Position relative to spathe: Upright.         -   Peduncle.—Size: Length: 50-70 cm. Diameter: 3-14 mm. Color:             The upper part is between Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A to             144B and the lower part is Green-White Group RHS 157C.             Texture: Smooth.         -   Reproductive organs.—Location of female organs: Basal             position of the spadix. Location of male organs: Upper             position of the spadix. Perianth: Conspicuous. Stamens:             Presence: Not visible before pollen release. Number: More             than 20. Pollen amount: Abundant and similar to ‘Picasso’             (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,282), but not quantifiable due to             minute pollen size. Color: Between White Group RHS 155A and             155B. Anther: Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color:             Between Yellow Group RHS 12A and Yellow-Orange Group RHS             14A. Filament: Length: Less than 1 mm. Pistil: Number: 15             to 30. Length beyond perianth: About 1 mm. Stigma: Shape:             Round. Size: Less than 1 mm. Style: Length: Less than 1 mm.             Color: Between Yellow-Green Group RHS 154A and 154C.             Ovaries: Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm. Width:             Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: Top color is between Yellow Group             RHS 2C and 2D, the bottom color is from White Group RHS 155B             to Green-White Group RHS 157C.         -   Seeds.—Length: 4-7 mm. Width: 3-6 mm. Color: Between             Yellow-Green Group RHS 150A and 151A. Amount: Between 1-70. -   General:     -   -   Disease resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to diseases             noticed to date.         -   Pest resistance.—No unusual susceptibility to pests noticed             to date.         -   Heat tolerance.—No heat tolerance.         -   Hardiness.—Not hardy.         -   Flowering.—Tubers planted in a greenhouse in The Netherlands             in February produce inflorescences in April. Tubers planted             outdoors in The Netherlands in May produce inflorescences in             July. In general, the time from planting to first flowering             takes eight weeks. However, tubers stored for a longer             period before planting may flower earlier — up to five weeks             after planting.         -   Lastingness.—About two weeks on the plant.         -   Fragrance.—None. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘Copacabana’ as herein described and illustrated. 